Ammunition Magazine

ABSTRACT

The present invention is an ammunition magazine utilizing slide lock release relief depressions made to fit around a firearm slide lock release lever. The magazine body can further comprise trigger bar relief and frame relief depressions configured to fit around the corresponding components of a firearm, permitting the function of firearm components while maximizing the thickness of the firearm magazine body material.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

This application is related to, incorporates by reference in its entirety, and claims the priority benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/815,122 filed on Mar. 7, 2020 by Christopher Andrew Plate.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to firearms and more particularly to improved ammunition magazines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A firearm magazine stores ammunition rounds and feeds ammunition rounds into a firearm. A firearm magazine body is generally hollow, retains rounds, and is generally part of a magazine assembly comprised of a magazine body, magazine spring, magazine follower, magazine base plate, and magazine locking plate.

Historically, magazine bodies were made of metal. However, attempts to use polymer magazine bodies have led to undesirable performance of magazines and/or the firearms in which they are used.

One non-limiting example of the problems associated with the use of polymers in magazine bodies involves the increased wall thickness generally required to properly incorporate polymers into a magazine body's construction and thus generally precludes the use of polymers for magazines of some weapon platforms.

In another non-limiting example, the use of polymer magazine bodies is generally problematic in pistols with comparatively small magazine wells designed around metal magazines; wherein the size requirements of a polymer magazine body may interfere with the movement of other components of the firearm.

In still another non-limiting example, polymer magazines exist for only a limited few weapon platforms. For example, a 9×19 mm Glock® 17 pistol has a comparatively larger polymer lined magazine, and larger magazine well, than a comparable 9×19 mm Sig Sauer® P320® pistol's metal magazine and magazine well. Accordingly, several polymer magazines currently exist for Glock® 17 platforms, while few or no such polymer magazines are available for the Sig Sauer® P320® and similar platforms, for example and not in limitation. Generally, this disparity in available magazine space is found in the upper portion of a magazine well of the firearm, where functional components of the firearm, such as the slide release lever, trigger bars, and in the case of modular systems, such as but not in limitation, the Sig Sauer® P320®, the fire control unit.

In still another non-limiting example, the feed lip area of currently available magazines is often prone to distortion and failure.

In still another non-limiting example, current magazine designs and methods cannot be easily converted from a metal construction to a polymer construction without negatively affecting the magazine strength, rounds stack geometry, feeding operations, or the functionality of individual firearm components.

In still another non-limiting example, when loading currently-available magazines with magazine loading devices, such loading devices generally require a magazine recess that is sized to fit over or around a substantial portion of the magazine.

To overcome these known problems, a new approach is required for magazine design and construction. To maximize the wall thickness of a magazine body, without sacrificing the minimal internal space required for proper rounds stack geometry and reliable feeding of rounds into the magazine, the magazine surfaces of a traditional magazine design must be enlarged, while also providing adequate relief structures that allow the magazine body to clear not only static parts of a firearm, such as but not in limitation, the frame, but also dynamically moving components of the firearm, such as and not in limitation, its trigger bar, slide stop mechanisms, and similar components located at or near the magazine while the magazine is within the firearm. Accordingly, a system and method are needed to address some of the deficiencies of the present technology and to provide other new and innovative features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a magazine, method, and system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a magazine body, method, and system that includes at least one lateral slide lock release relief depression.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a magazine body, method, and system that includes at least one feed lip surface reinforcement depression.

In an exemplary aspect, a magazine body can include one or more lateral slide lock release relief depressions, formed into the main body, and at least a portion of the at least one slide lock release relief depressions can be located on a portion of at least one of the magazine feed lips.

In an exemplary aspect, a lateral slide lock release relief depression can be shaped around a firearm's slide lock mechanism, wherein the firearm's slide lock mechanism is permitted to properly operate while maximizing the wall thickness of a firearm magazine body. Notably, a lateral slide lock release relief depression can be shaped to allow the operation of a firearm's slide lock mechanism, and can be formed into the firearm magazine body in conjunction with a magazine feed lip lateral surface extending at or beyond a firearm's slide lock mechanism.

In another exemplary aspect, a magazine body can have a pair of lateral slide lock release relief depressions, and a pair of magazine feed lips, wherein the magazine feed lips have a lateral surface, and the magazine has a width between the slide lock release relief depressions, and the magazine has a width between the slide lock release relief depressions, and the magazine feed lips' lateral surfaces width is greater than the width between the slide lock release relief depressions.

In another exemplary aspect, a magazine body can have an optional frame relief depression, wherein the magazine body has a width between its lateral sides and a reduced width between a frame relief depression and at least one of a second frame relief depression and a lateral side.

In another exemplary aspect, a magazine body can have an optional trigger bar depression relief.

In another exemplary aspect, a magazine body can include a removable magazine base plate.

In another exemplary aspect, a magazine body can be constructed of a polymer material.

In another exemplary aspect, a magazine body can be constructed of a metallic material.

In another exemplary aspect, a magazine body can be a part of a magazine assembly including a magazine body, a magazine spring, a magazine follower, a magazine base plate and a magazine locking plate.

In another exemplary aspect, a method of using a magazine body can comprise the following steps: positioning the magazine body within the magazine well of a firearm, and manipulating a firearm slide release mechanism wherein a portion of the magazine slide release mechanism can fit within a portion of one or more lateral slide lock release relief depressions of the magazine body.

Any combination of one of more of the following are further additional optional exemplary aspects of the present invention: the one or more lateral slide lock release depressions can include a linear, convex, concave, or other functionally compatible shape; the magazine body can further comprise one or more frame relief depressions that can include a linear, convex, concave, or other functionally compatible shape; the magazine body can further comprise one or more trigger bar relief depressions that can include a linear, convex, concave, or other functionally compatible shape; the magazine body can further comprise one or more feed lip surface reinforcement depressions that can include a linear, convex, concave, or other functionally compatible shape.

These and other objects are expressly and apparently provided via the illustrative embodiments described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a magazine assembly, including a magazine body, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front facing view of a magazine assembly, including a magazine body, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear facing view of a magazine assembly, including a magazine body, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top down facing view of a magazine assembly, including a magazine body, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side elevation view of a magazine assembly, including a magazine body, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates another side elevation view of a magazine assembly, including a magazine body, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates an isometric view of an upper portion of a magazine assembly, including a magazine body, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates an isometric view of a magazine body according to some embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a side elevation view of a magazine body according to some embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates an isometric view of a magazine body positioned within a fire control unit assembly according to some embodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates an isometric view of a prior art magazine body in a fire control unit.

FIG. 12 illustrates a cross section view of a portion of a magazine body positioned within a fire control unit assembly according to some embodiments.

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross section view of a portion of a prior art magazine body in a fire control unit.

FIG. 14 illustrates an isometric view of a magazine body positioned within an ambidextrous slide lock release lever assembly according to some embodiments.

FIG. 15 illustrates a top down view of a magazine body positioned within an ambidextrous slide lock release lever assembly according to some embodiments.

FIG. 16 illustrates a cross section top down view of a magazine body according to some embodiments.

FIG. 17 illustrates an isometric view of a magazine body according to some embodiments.

FIG. 18 illustrates a side elevation view of a magazine body according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be noted that this disclosure includes a plurality of embodiments, with a plurality of elements and aspects, and such elements and aspects need not necessarily be interpreted as being conjunctively required by one or more embodiments of the present invention. Rather, all combinations of the one or more elements and/or aspects can enable a separate embodiment of the present invention, which may be claimed with particularity in this or any one or more future filed Non-Provisional patent applications. Moreover, any particular materials, structures, and/or sizes disclosed herein, whether expressly or implicitly, are to be construed strictly as illustrative and enabling, and not necessarily limiting. Therefore, it is expressly set forth that such materials, structures, and/or sizes independently or in any combination thereof, are merely illustratively representative of one or more embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as necessary in a strict sense.

Further, to the extent the same element or aspect is defined differently within this disclosure, whether expressly or implicitly, the broader definition is to take absolute precedence, with the distinctions encompassed by the narrower definition to be strictly construed as optional.

Illustratively, perceived benefits of the present invention can include functional utility, whether expressly or implicitly stated herein, or apparent herefrom. However, it is expressly set forth that these benefits are not intended as exclusive. Therefore, any explicit, implicit, or apparent benefit from the disclosure herein is expressly deemed as applicable to the present invention.

According to the present invention, a magazine can be formed from any one or more materials or combinations of materials, such as one or more of plastic, rubber, wood, metal, a crystalline material, or any other man-made or naturally occurring material, for example and not in limitation, insofar as the same if functionally consistent with the invention as described. Further, a loader can be manufactured in any one or more functionally compatible manners, such as through molding, machining, etc.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of magazine body 110, wherein the magazine body can include lateral sides 112, a fore side 113, aft side 111, an open end 190, a pair of feed lips 120, a distal end 180, a magazine catch depression 114, an upper portion 140, and a slide lock release relief depression 150.

In an exemplary aspect, a magazine body 110 can further include, alternatively or in combination, an optional frame relief depression 160, and an optional frame trigger bar relief depression 170.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1., magazine body 110 can be a part of magazine assembly that comprises a magazine body 110, magazine follower 300, and a magazine base 200, wherein the magazine base can be optionally removable from the magazine body 110.

In an exemplary aspect, a magazine body 110 can include one or more lateral slide lock release relief depressions 150, formed into the main body 110, and at least a portion of the at least one slide lock release relief depressions 150 located on a portion of at least one of the magazine feed lips 120. Further notably, one or more of the slide lock release relief depressions 150 can extend to one or both of the fore 113 or aft 112 sides of the magazine body.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, a magazine body 110 can include one or more lateral slide lock release relief depressions 150. As shown, a magazine body 110 can include one lateral slide lock release relief depression 150 located on a portion of one of the feed lips 120, and magazine body 110 can further include an additional slide lock release relief depression 150 located on a portion of another one of the feed lips 120.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-6, magazine body 110 can further optionally include, alternatively or in combination, one or more frame relief depressions 160, and one or more trigger relief depressions 170. Further notably, one or both of the frame relief depression 160 and trigger bar relief depression 170 can extend to one or both of the fore 113 and aft 112 sides of the magazine body 110.

FIG. 7 illustratively shows an upper portion 140 of a magazine body 110 having a slide lock release relief depression 150 formed therein and located on a portion of feed lip 120. While FIG. 7 illustrates the slide lock release relief depression 150 extending into portions of both feed lip 120 and frame relief 160, slide lock release relief depression 150 can be located from any combination of surfaces or features of the magazine body 110. For example, and not in limitation, slide lock release relief depression 150 can extend from both feed lip 120 and lateral side 112.

FIGS. 8-9 illustratively shows a magazine body 110 further including a magazine catch depression 114 located on a portion of lateral side 112 and fore side 113. Further notably, magazine body 110 can include one, or more than one magazine catch depressions 114. Further, magazine catch depression 114 can optionally be a hole extending thru the magazine body 110.

FIG. 10 illustratively shows an exemplary magazine body 110 positioned within a Sig Sauer® P320® fire control unit FCU, wherein the fire control unit FCU includes an ambidextrous slide lock release lever SLR and a trigger bar TB, and wherein the magazine body 110 includes a lateral slide lock release relief depression 150 and the lateral slide lock release relief depression 150 is shaped to fit around the slide lock release SLR of the fire control unit FCU.

FIG. 11 illustratively shows a prior art Sig Sauer® P320® magazine body positioned within a Sig Sauer® P320® fire control unit FCU, wherein the fire control unit FCU includes an ambidextrous slide lock release lever SLR and a trigger bar TB.

FIG. 12 illustratively shows portion of an exemplary magazine body 110 positioned within a Sig Sauer® P320® fire control unit FCU, wherein the fire control unit FCU includes an ambidextrous slide lock release lever SLR and a trigger bar TB, and wherein the magazine body 110 includes a lateral slide lock release relief depression 150 and the lateral slide lock release relief depression 150 is shaped to fit around the slide lock release SLR of the fire control unit FCU, and magazine body 110 further includes a frame relief depression 160 and the frame relief depression 160 is shaped to fit around the FCU, and the magazine body further includes a trigger bar relief depression 170 and the trigger bar relief depression 170 is shaped to fit around the trigger bar TB of the fire control unit FCU assembly.

FIG. 13 illustratively shows a portion of a prior art Sig Sauer® P320® magazine body positioned within a Sig Sauer® P320® fire control unit, wherein the fire control unit includes an ambidextrous slide lock release lever and a trigger bar.

FIGS. 14-15 illustratively shows an exemplary magazine body 110 positioned within a Sig Sauer® P320® ambidextrous slide lock release lever SLR, and wherein the magazine body 110 includes two lateral slide lock release relief depressions 150 and the lateral slide lock release relief depressions 150 are each shaped to fit around the slide lock release SLR.

FIG. 16 illustratively shows an exemplary magazine body 110 wherein the magazine body 110 includes two lateral slide lock release relief depressions 150 are each formed into a respective feed lip 120 located at magazine opening 190.

FIGS. 17-18 illustratively shows an exemplary magazine body 110 wherein the magazine body 110 includes multiple feed lip surface reinforcement depressions 155 that are formed into feed lip 120 located at magazine opening 190. Further notably, a magazine body 110 contain any number of surface reinforcement depressions 155 located on one or more feed lips 120.

Notably, while the present invention illustrates the positioning of a magazine body within a Sig Sauer® P320® fire control unit, the present invention is not limited to any one brand, make, or model of firearm, rather the it is merely illustrative of one such embodiment of the invention. Further notably, while the present invention illustrates the positioning of a magazine body within a fire control unit, the present invention is not limited to firearms that have fire control units, rather the it is merely illustrative of one such embodiment of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is expressly contemplated to apply to various types of firearms, with or without fire control units.

It should be understood, however, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific embodiments, aspects, arrangement, and components shown and described above, but may be susceptible to numerous variations within the scope of the invention.

Therefore, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative and enabling, rather than a restrictive, sense.

Accordingly, it will be understood that the above description of the embodiments of the present invention are susceptible to various modifications, changes, and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. 

Therefore, I claim:
 1. An ammunition magazine body, configured to fit within a firearm having a magazine well and said firearm further including a slide lock release lever, said magazine body comprising: a main body, having a magazine opening located at one end of the magazine body, a distal end located opposite the magazine opening, a pair of lateral sides, a fore side positioned perpendicular to the lateral side and extending from the distal end to the magazine opening, and an aft side positioned parallel to the fore side and extending from the distal end to the magazine opening; a pair of magazine feed lips, formed by a portion of the main body and positioned at the magazine opening; at least one lateral slide lock release relief depression, formed into the magazine body, positioned on at least a portion of at least one of the magazine feed lips, and extending towards the fore side of the main body, wherein with the magazine body positioned within the magazine well of the firearm, the slide lock release lever is free to operate around the at least one lateral slide lock release relief depression.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the firearm further include a trigger bar and the magazine body further includes at least one trigger bar relief depression, and wherein with the magazine body positioned within the magazine well of the firearm, the trigger bar is free to operate round the at least one trigger bar relief depression.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the firearm further includes a fire control unit and the magazine body further includes at least one frame relief depression, and wherein with the magazine body positioned within the magazine well of the firearm, the fire control unit fits around the least one frame relief depression.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein the firearm further includes a trigger bar and the magazine body further includes at least one trigger bar relief depression, and wherein with the magazine body positioned within the magazine well of the firearm, the trigger bar is free to operate around the at least one trigger bar relief depression.
 5. A method of using an ammunition magazine body, configured to fit within a firearm having magazine well and said firearm further including a slide lock release lever, said magazine body comprising: a main body, having a magazine opening located at one end of the magazine body, a distal end located opposite the magazine opening, a pair of lateral sides, a fore side positioned perpendicular to the lateral side and extending from the distal end to the magazine opening, and an aft side positioned parallel to the fore side and extending from the distal end to the magazine opening; a pair of magazine feed lips, formed by a portion of the main body and positioned at the magazine opening; at least one lateral slide lock release relief depression, formed into the main body, positioned on at least a portion of at least one of the magazine feed lips, and extending towards the fore side of the main body; and said method comprising: a. positioning the magazine within the magazine well of the firearm and; b. operating the slide lock release lever.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the firearm further includes a trigger bar and the magazine body further includes at least one trigger bar relief depression, and wherein with the magazine body positioned within the magazine well of the firearm, the trigger bar is free to operate around the at least one trigger bar relief depression.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the firearm further includes a fire control unit and the magazine body further includes at least one frame relief depression, and wherein with the magazine body positioned within the magazine well of the firearm, the fire control unit fits around the least one frame relief depression.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the firearm further includes a fire control unit and the magazine body further includes at least one frame relief depression, and wherein with the magazine body positioned within the magazine well of the firearm, the fire control unit fits around the at least one frame relief depression. 